Burn Hill
Early-attested site in the Parish of Stone
Historical Forms
- Burnhull 1276 RH
- Bourn Hill 1722 Rec.ix.264
Etymology
There is no stream here so that association with the OE burna is ruled out. The hill is however marked by an ancient barrow which has been examined and found to contain skeletons of the Early Iron age or of the Anglo-Saxon period (v. Rec. ix. 263 f.). It is therefore clear that the first element is OE byrgen, 'burial-place,' an element which Bradley and Ekwall independently showed to be present in the second part of Hebburn (Du). Hence 'hill marked by a burial place.' Cf. Burn in Brayton (Y), c. 1030Burne Yorkshire Charters, Birne , Burne Feudal Aids.